Artega’s new model future and interview

By Georg Kacher

Motor Industry

08 September 2008 12:50

Artega has just launched the brilliant GT, but CAR Online has grilled the top brass to bring you the inside line on the next generation of sports cars from the fledgling German manufacturer. Artega is planning a second model, smaller engines and more besides.

Click here for our first drive of the GT – a cut-price rival to the Porsche Cayman – but today we can spill the beans on the cars that will follow it. Once production of the GT is up and running, Artega will introduce a more economical four-cylinder version and after that will turn its attention to other standalone models.

Read on for our full interview with Karlheinz Kalbfell, the chief advisor to Artega since 2006. Sound familiar? That’s because he was previously a BMW bigwig, launching Mini and Rolls-Royce, before quitting to head up Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

‘There are many things Artega is not,’ says Kalbfell. ‘We’re not a cottage car manufacturer, we are not in the bespoke business, we are not a coachbuilder and we are going to stay well clear of the supercar segment.

‘Artega is not a short-lived experiment – the company is here to stay. Artega’s mission is to occupy the niche which separates the high-volume from the tiny-volume sports car makers. The firm’s means to this end is the GT, a sophisticated yet affordable mid-engined two-seater coupé aimed at performance- and handling-oriented enthusiasts. It’s “inspiration in motion” in the purest sense of the motto.’

Click ‘Next’ to read the rest of our interview with Artega

For our full drive of the new Artega GT, buy the latest October 2008 issue of CAR Magazine. Click here for a digital preview

By Georg Kacher